Beijing, the capital of the People's Republic of China, is the nation's political and cultural center. Some 690,000 years ago, Peking Man lived at Zhoukoudian, 48 kilometers southwest of Beijing. A small town appeared on the present site of southwestern Beijing in 1045 B. C. It was named Ji and then changed to Yan. At the beginning of the 10th century, it was the second capital of the Liao Dynasty. From then on, the city had been the capital of the Jin, Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties until 1911. In the early twenties, Beijing became the cradle of China's new democratic revolution. The May Fourth Movement against imperialism and feudalism began here in 1919. On October 1st, 1949, Chairman Mao proclaimed to the whole world the founding of the People's Republic of China.

Shanghai

Islam was introduced into China since 651 AD and has since been developed. It is now spread among ten minorities such as Hui, Uygur, Uzbek, Kirgiz, Tatar, Tajik, Salar, Dongxiang and Bonan, who are called under a general name 'Moslem', the population of which has reached above 17 million.

The history of Shanghai Moslem initiated in Songjiang County, where Moslems from western territories resided in 1275 AD.

During 1341 to 1347, Moslems living in Songjiang established the first mosque (Songjiang Mosque) and their special tombs in the western part of Shanghai appeared at that time.

In 1843, when Shanghai opened port to and started business with the outside, Moslems in Shanghai, centered on Fuyou Road Mosque began participating in the economic and cultural constructions of the city.

The year 1909 saw the establishment of the first Moslem society--Shanghai Islamic Board of Directors and in 1925, academic and cultural organizations of Moslems appeared including China Hui Association and some societies for youth, women and charity. In 1962, the Society of Shanghai Islam was founded and now it has more than 50,000 members (nine minorities included).

The religions, believes and habits of Shanghai Moslems are respected. They can keep their own holidays (such as the Festival of Fast-breaking and Corban), habits of marriage, funeral, culinary, dining and antiques.

Moslems have their own animal and poultry slaughterhouse as well as candies or food processing factories, along with special schools, kindergartens and public cemeteries. The education and daily lives of them are taken care of by the government. Shanghai now has six mosques open to public and one mosque for women only.

The Shanghai Society of Islam, in its 30 years of history has acted as bridge between government and Islamics and has contributed to the economic construction, stabilities of society and the unity of minorities with majorities as well as international exchange with other religious groups from foreign countries.

Since 1982, the society has organized four Islam courses, training 20 members and in 1992, it edited and published 'The history of Shanghai Islam' and in 1995, 'Shanghai Religions, Islam Chapter'. It also publishes its own newsletter 'Shanghai Moslem', which pushes the development of the religion in Shanghai up one gear.

Nanjing

Nanjing, literally means the south capital, lies in the southwest part of Jiangsu Province, south of the Yangtze River. It is also known as Jinling (Golden Mausoleum). It is the capital of the province and center of culture and communications around the area. It is regarded as one of the most famous cities in the southern part of China and attracts millions of tourists for its splendid history and beautiful scenic beauty. In history, Nanjing was regarded as an important city by rulers in the past ages, because the terrain was a ground which was difficult to access by enemies. Therefore, it had been chosen as capitals for more than 10 dynasties in Chinese history. The city is known all over the world as one of the four most ancient cities in China. Nanjing has spanned a history of more than 2,500 years. During the Three Kingdom Period, it became the capital of East Wu (one kingdom of the three). Later, it served as the capital of East Jin Dynasty (317 - 420 AD), Southern Dynasties (420 - 589), which included the Song, Qi, Liang and Chen Dynasties. After the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD), Nanjing was the capitals of the Southern Tang Dynasty, Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 AD), and the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom. The name of the city was changed with the changing of dynasties. In the East Wu Dynasty, it was called Jianye and in the East Jin Dynasty and Southern Dynasties it was called Jiankang. Later it was named as Jiangning, Jiqing and Yingtian etc. The name of Nanjing was first seen appeared in the historical records of the Ming Dynasty. In 1420, the emperor of the Ming Dynasty moved the capital to Beijing (literally means the north capital) for military purposes. From 1927 to 1949, it served as the capital for Guomindang under Chiang Kaishek. Nanjing is embraced by mountains on three sides and the natural moat – Yangtze River on the north. The Mountain Stone on the west looks like a coiling dragon, while the Mountain Zhong on the east looks like a crouching tiger. The present city covers an area of 6,516 sq. km, including 857.21 sq. km of the city proper. It has the jurisdiction over 10 districts and 5 counties. The annual temperature averages 15.3C in summer, and the highest temperature can reach as high as 40C so it gets the title of 'the blazing furnace' with two other cities Wuhan and Chongqing. In January, its annual average temperature is 2.4C. During the middle ten days of Mid June, brings there are intermittent drizzles. Therefore, making the best season to visit this city is either in spring or autumn. Nanjing is famous for its local arts and crafts. The most well-known products are cloud-pattern brocade, swine down, Yuhua (rain flower) stone, imitation ancient ivory carvings, traditional Satin Velvet, Yuhua Pebble and antique imitation of wood carving, etc.

guangzhou

Guangzhou is a civilized ancient city with a history of more than 2,200 years, the same ages as the world-renowned ancient cultural city Rome of Italy. It was the earliest trade port in China that opening to the world, and was the starting port of the 'Silk Road on the Sea' since the Han and Tang Dynasties.

As early as in Chou Period, 9th century BC, there were exchanges between 'Baiyue' people at Guangzhou and people of Chu State, the name 'Chu Ting' originated, which was the earliest name of Guangzhou. In the thirty-third year of Emperor Qin Shihuang (214 BC), Qin unified Lingnan, Nanhai prefecture (capital was set up at 'Panyu' where it is today) was set up. In the year of 226, in order to strengthen the rule, Sun Quan decided to divide original Jiaozhou into two parts- Jiaozhou and Guangzhou, name of Guangzhou became known since then. In 1925, four years later when the municipal council was set up in 1921, Guangzhou really means the city today.

Guangzhou has other nicknames such as 'Yangcheng' (City of Ram) and 'Suicheng' (City of Rice Spike). There is a beautiful legend which goes like that, long long ago, there were five celestials riding five rams with rice spikes in their mouths and gave the rice to the local residents, and then they left behind the five rams that afterwards turned into stones. To its memory, a special Five-Ram Sculpture was built in Yuexiu Park. Since the flowers here keep blossoming all the year round, so it is also called 'Huachang' (City of Flower).

The city is also a source of modern Chinese revolution. In this land, so many historic events took place, which are Sanyuanli Struggle against British invaders, Huanghuagang Uprising and Guangzhou Commune Uprising. Sun Yat-sen, a revolutionary forerunner, set up Huangpu Military Academy and the political powers for three times. Mao Zedong ran the Institute of Peasant Movement to train lots of key revolutionist. Zhang Tailei, Ye Ting and Ye Jianying were leaders of the famous Guangzhou Uprising. Famous writers such as Lu Xun, Guo Moruo and Yu Dafu came here to promote advanced cultural progress.

Fujian

Fujian Province in southeast China has a very long and colourful recorded history, dating at least as far back as the Warring States Period (475-221 B.C.). At that time the State of Yue, located approximately in present-day Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces, was defeated by the State of Chu, which ruled the areas of today's Hubei and Hunan provinces. After their defeat, the Yue people were forced to move southward and settled in the areas now known as Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi and Vietnam. Those that went to Fujian were called Min Yue, and the province itself Dong Yue.
Later, Emperor Shihuang of the Qin Dynasty (221-207 BC) set up a prefecture in Fujian and changed the name of the province to one word, Min. Even today this word is used as an abbreviation for Fujian, and people in the south of the province speak a dialect called the Minnan (southern Fujian) dialect.
The natives of Fujian are therefore called the ancient Min people. No written records about them have ever been found, but the boat-shaped coffins at the Wuyi Mountains probably belonged to Xia-dynasty (c. 21st-16th century BC) Min people. A pictographic written language was discovered carved into a rock in the town of Hua'an, and is believed to be another relic of the ancient Min people from the Shang Dynasty (c. 16th-11th century BC).
Besides the Min people, Fujian is home to several other nationalities, the largest of which is the She people, a branch of the Miao nationality who moved to Fujian from the Yangtse River Valley. Other minority people include the Hui, who are scattered in urban areas; the Ding and Guo clans in southern Fujian and Putian, descendants of Arabs and Persians who came to Quanzhou during the Tang and Song dynasties; the Dan people, and a small number of Manchus. People of the Ding and Guo clans have curly hair, deep-set eyes and hook-shaped noses. The Dan people are said to be Mongols who were forced by the Han to move from the hinterlands to the coast of Fujian during the decline of the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368).
Historically the Han nationality made five big emigrations, all from the Central Plains. Sometimes whole villages and tribes travelled long distances to Fujian in an organized way. These people, called Hakka or "guest families", retained their own language, dress, customs and habits. Many of their descendants later moved to Guangdong, Taiwan and Southeast Asia, and today the Hakka total some 60 million. Many prominent figures have been Hakka people, including Sun Yat-sen, his wife Soong Ching Ling, writer, historian and archaeologist Guo Moruo and others.
The unique round (or sometimes square) earthen residences of the Hakka people can still be seen in the western part of Fujian. These remarkable structures are attractive, practical and easily defensible, as it is almost impossible for anyone to enter the compound once the gates are closed. Along the coast of Fujian are a number of cities with historical and cultural significance. The southernmost city is Zhangzhou, which was founded in the Tang Dynasty (618-907) and still boasts many ancient buildings.
Located northeast of Zhangzhou is Xiamen, a former island now linked to the mainland, and a booming special economic zone with a lakeside development region. Historical sites and scenic spots include the Mausoleum of Tan Kah-kee, a prominent, patriotic overseas Chinese, South Putuo Temple, the Huli Hill Fortress and Gulangyu Islet.
To the north of Xiamen is Quanzhou, at one time the world's second largest port. During the Tang and Song dynasties, Arabian and Persian merchants came here in large numbers to trade with local merchants, and today one can still see many reminders of Quanzhou's colorful past. About 17 kilometres away from the city is the Overseas Chinese University, and further east lies Chongwu Peninsula, where one can visit the ancient stone city of Chongwu.
North of Quanzhou is Meizhou Island, where Mazu, the Goddess of the Sea, is worshipped. This beautiful little island has dozens of Mazu temples, and is well worth a visit for both its scenic and religious attractions. Moving further north, one comes to the capital city of Fuzhou, where there is a great deal to see and do. Within the city are three hills and two pagodas, beautiful West Lake and the newly-built Zuohai Park. On the outskirts of Fuzhou one can visit Drum Hill, Xichan Monastery and Jinshan Monastery. In Fuding, located in the most northeastern corner of the province, one can enjoy the lovely scenery of Taimu Mountain. There are also many She nationality villages dotted throughout eastern Fujian.
One of Fujian's most well-known tourist spots is the Wuyi Mountain Scenic Area, located along Fujian's northern border with Jiangxi. As a State-designated nature reserve, there are many beautiful sights here such as the Water Curtain Cave and Mount Huanggang, the highest peak in eastern China.
In fact, there is so much to see in Fujian that one could spend many weeks travelling around and still not see everything. Culture, art, history, fantastic scenery, beautiful architecture, sandy beaches and a year-round pleasant climate all combine to make Fujian one of the most interesting and enjoyable provinces in all of China.

Hongkong

As the Pearl of the Orient, Hong Kong is a popular tourist attraction besides being an important financial market of the world.

Situated in the southeast corner of China and east of Pearl River's (Zhu Jiang) entrance, it connects with Shenzhen city in the north and occupies an area of 1,092 square kilometers (422 square miles).

Hong Kong has a total population of 6.78 million, of which 96 percent is Chinese, and the rest are various nationalities. English and Chinese are the official languages in Hong Kong.

According to historical records, since the Song Dynasty (960 ~ 1279), people inhabiting small villages lived on the production of incense sticks, which were then shipped from a nearby port (called 'gang'). Hence the village gained its name Xianggang, which became Hong Kong in English. In ancient time, Hong Kong belonged to Guangdong Province. After the Opium War in 1842, it was handed over to Great Britain as a colony.

By 1966, Hong Kong was not only the main Southeast Asian trans-shipment point for Vietnam war materials-its harbor packed with freighters-but it was also one of the most popular R&R (rest and recreation) venues for the American troops.

By the mid-1970s, Hong Kong was moving from trade, textiles and toys to trade, international banking and finance and electronics, and vastly improving its housing and public transport infrastructure.

In l982, British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher visited Hong Kong for the first talks on the handover of the New Territories, whose lease was due to expire in 1997. In the event, Britain agreed to hand the whole lot back.

On July 1, 1997, 156 years of Colonial Rule came to an end, Hong Kong returned back to China. The former colony is now the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), and has been promised a high degree of autonomy and the freedom to continue its capitalist lifestyle for 50 years after 1997. Thus, the policy of 'one country, two systems' has been successfully implemented from then on.

Hong Kong gets more prosperous by the day of returning back to China. It is the jewel in the crown of the Pearl River Delta-which includes Macau and southern Guangdong-one of the front-runners of the new wave of Asian economic 'tigers'. It welcomes more than 11 million visitors a year, including over two million business travelers and package tourists from mainland China. The 'barren rock' of 150 years ago is now one the world's great cities.
Hong Kong is geographically and administratively divided into three main regions: Hongkong Island, Kowloon and New Territories. Kowloon and New Territories border on Guangdong Province and the famous Victoria Bay is between Hong Kong Island and Kowloon. On top of this, there are some pretty islands dotted around the coast of Hong Kong Island and Kowloon in the South China Sea.

Hong Kong Island is usually the starting point and the most important district for travelers. The central part of Hong Kong Island is the business center, which is also an important venue for international trade and finance. Its towering skyscrapers and bustling activities give an impression of great wealth and prosperity. Boasting both eastern and western cultures, Hong Kong is both a shopper's and a tourist's paradise.

Recommended attractions on this wonderful island are Ocean Park, with the longest pedestrian escalator in the world, which is the largest leisure theme park in southeast Asia; Victoria Peak, with the oldest Peak tram, which is the highest peak on this island and Hong Kong's most enduring tourist attraction; and the Hongkong Convention & Exhibition Center, with its grand architecture and luxurious decor.

Kowloon is the trading estate and residential area of Hong Kong, while Tsim Sha Tsui is the liveliest section in Kowloon. Shopping malls in Kowloon are numerous and this makes Hong Kong one of the top shopping destinations in the world. In Kowloon, the Star Ferry is very popular among tourists for a very inexpensive fare, and you can enjoy the magnificent panorama of Victoria Harbour on it. Besides, it runs regularly every few minutes and only takes about ten minutes of your time.

New Territories is the farm belt of Hong Kong. Most local residents and immigrants would rather live here than anywhere else, because it is located in a rural setting far away from the bustling business center. Here you can see the rapid growth of Hong Kong's new town, Sha Tin, and take in the sights of small farms, rustic countryside and pretty coastline on the Sai Kung Peninsula.

Apart from the bustle and hustle of the metropolis, the outlying Islands offer a greener side to Hong Kong. Lamma Island offers both the beauty of the sea and the rural lifestyle of Hong Kong in the pretty fishing villages and Lantau Island is famous for its Discovery Bay and the fact that it is soon to be home to Asian Disney land.

Macau

Macau is located on the south-eastern coast of China, at latitude North and longitude East. The territory comprises a peninsula and two islands in the Pearl River Delta of Guangdong Province. Some 60 kms to the east-northeast, across the mouth of the river, is Hong Kong, an important financial and trading centre.
The city of Macau is built on the peninsula; two bridges of 2.5kms and 4.5kms respectively link it to its nearest island of Taipa, which in turn is joined to Coloane by a 2.2 km-long causeway. At the extreme northern end of the peninsula, on a narrow isthmus, is the imposing gateway (Portas. do Cerco, or Border Gate), which leads to the Zhuhai and Zhongshan areas of China. Coloane is also connected fo Zhuhai City by the newly opened Lotus Bridge.